Scalpel Safari Tourism to South Africa
It seems that a growing number of tourists to South Africa are planning a vacation for sun, safari and surgery. This new breed of medical tourists who have committed to plastic surgery abroad, return home from their vacation with more than a great tan to account for their glowing good looks.
Medical Tourism – Game Parks, Winelands, Wild Coast
Not only do medical tourists get to enjoy a holiday of a lifetime in the game parks or the Cape Winelands or along the Wild Coast - they also manage to transform their face or figure (or whatever they want changed) at the same time. And because of favorable exchange rates, they are not really out of pocket.
South Africa is one of many destinations for medical tourists because of its world-class standards of medical care, highly trained plastic or cosmetic surgeons and of course the undeniably diverse tourist attractions. It is an all round popular medical tourism destination for those who chose to have plastic surgery abroad, hence the term – scalpel safari tourism.
Plastic Surgery Procedures
Increasing numbers of foreign tourists, mainly from the US and UK are taking advantage of the low Rand (currency) and South Africa’s medical excellence. Common procedures requested include breast augmentation, liposuction, facelifts, tummy tucks, eyelid surgery and nose reshaping as well as dentistry.
South Africa offers modern private cosmetic surgery clinics with access to the latest technology and treatments for medical tourists. Treatment Abroad says that cosmetic surgery in South Africa means real value for money, not least because patients can benefit from the warm climate for recuperation and relax in luxury accommodation.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Cosmetic Surgery Tourismis a price-driven phenomenon that has experienced increased growth over the past decade. According to ASPS statistics, women made up 88 percent of all cosmetic surgery patients in the United States in 2004, with the majority being age 35-50. Patients who opt for cosmetic surgery vacations usually mirror this demographic.
Affordable Cosmetic Surgery
Two major influences affect the decision to have plastic or cosmetic surgery abroad:
- The biggest one is cost. Cosmetic surgery is extremely expensive and is rarely, if ever covered by health insurance. According to research found in an article by the University of Delaware publication: “The cost of surgery in Bolivia, Argentina, India, Thailand, Colombia, Philippines or South Africa can be one-tenth of what it is in the United States or Western Europe, and sometimes even less. Cosmetic surgery savings are even greater: a full facelift that would cost $20,000 in the U.S. runs about $2,700 in the Philippines or $2,500 in South Africa or $ 2,300 in Bolivia.”
- Another problem that affects medial tourism is the embarrassment factor. People still get very embarrassed about getting "work done." Plastic surgery abroad makes a lot of sense to these medical tourists because they can have affordable cosmetic surgery away from the prying eyes of family and friends and enjoy a luxury holiday at the same time.
Scalpel Safaris to South Africa
Medical tourists on these so called scalpel safaris are take advantage of everything South Africa has to offer in the plastic surgery world. They leave for an exotic vacation in South Africa, have the surgery, relax and recover, and return home a completely new, rejuvenated person.
- Lorraine Melville is a Founder Member of Medical Tourism Association of South Africa – founded 2006. She runs Surgeons & Safari.
- NU LOOK offers initial consultation for medical tourists in the UK before traveling to Cape Town.
Medical Tourism to South Africa
Medical tourism is a term initially introduced by travel agencies and the mass media to describe to the rapidly-growing practice of traveling to another country to obtain health care, especially those who want to have plastic surgery abroad. When this takes place to countries like South Africa, the term Scalpel Safari's is also used.
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Karen Lotter - Karen Lotter is a journalist and writer based in Durban, South Africa. She has written profiles, features, advertising copy, ...
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